Systems, apparatus and methods for facilitating display and management of information for communication devices

ABSTRACT

Apparatus, methods and computer-readable storage media are provided for information management and display. In one embodiment, a method includes displaying, via a user interface of a communication device, a dynamically updatable wallpaper comprising a personalized theme personalized to a user of the communication device. The method also includes updating the dynamically updatable wallpaper to display one or more animated icons. Displaying the animated icons is based, at least, on detected activity of respective contacts associated with the one or more animated icons. In another embodiment, an apparatus comprises: a user interface component configured to display images indicative of contacts, wherein the plurality of contacts are predefined by a user of the apparatus. The apparatus also includes a messaging component configured to: integrate different types of text messages for one of the contacts; and provide concurrent display of the text messages and social media information for one of the contacts.

BACKGROUND

With advancements in technology, communication devices are becomingubiquitous throughout society due to the convenience of use resultantfrom their lightweight nature and extensive information processingcapabilities. Users are demanding that a plethora of different types ofinformation be provided to the devices, and are pushing the envelope onthe applications and information that are required to be provided viathe devices to maintain contact with friends and colleagues. Forexample, the ability to form online social networks (SNs) with othershas increased the possibilities for casual, business and familynetworking. The popularity of such SNs, and the social networking sites(SNSs) that facilitate such SNs, has caused users of such sites, and thesocial media (SM) information provided to and retrievable from suchsites, to be immense. To fully reap the benefits of the SNs, many usersalso access contacts, status updates, wall postings and/or photo albumsof friends via their communication devices. Ever present challenges forusers of communication devices are efficiently viewing and retrievingselect SM information and other up-to-date information and/or managingthe relationships with other users of SNSs with which the owner of thecommunication device is affiliated. Further, because of the foregoing,users of communication devices are often confronted with a massiveamount of information. Such a sizeable amount of information can makeretrieval of desired information somewhat complex, time-consuming andinefficient.

Accordingly, systems, apparatus and methods for facilitating display andmanagement of information for communication devices are desirable.

SUMMARY

The following presents a simplified summary in order to provide a basicunderstanding of various aspects described herein. The summary is not anextensive overview, and is not intended to identify key or criticalelements or to delineate the scopes thereof. The sole purpose of thesummary is to present selected concepts in a simplified form as aprelude to the more detailed description that is presented below.

The aspects described herein include systems, apparatus, methods andcomputer-readable storage media for display and management ofinformation for communication devices. Display and management ofinformation can be facilitated via display of dynamically updatablewallpaper and/or widgets on the communication device. In someembodiments, the communication device can also display SM informationand/or text messages for a particular contact thus providing the userwith filtered glances of messaging and/or social network activity for upto a number of favorite contacts. The embodiments can alsoadvantageously provide integrated display of heterogeneous (e.g., IM,MMS, SMS, IP messaging, etc.) messaging for a single contact. Bubblenotches for messages and/or picture curls for contacts pictures (or foravatars) can be employed to identify the contact to which the message orsocial network activity is related.

By way of example, but not limitation, systems, apparatus, methods andcomputer-readable storage media described herein can enable theselection of a number of favorite contacts (and display of avatars orpictures to represent the contacts), and provide display and managementof information directly on the display of the communication device forthe favorite contacts. One-click access to messaging and SM informationfor the contacts is also provided by displaying such information upondetection of a single click or tap on the portion of the user interface(UI) corresponding to the contact of interest.

By way of another example, but not limitation, systems, apparatus andmethods described herein can provide users and/or third-party developersa unique framework to define visual representation of messaging and SMinformation via the dynamically updatable wallpaper, widgets, supportingapplications and/or a combination of any of the three.

By way of another example, but not limitation, systems, apparatus,methods and computer-readable storage media described herein can providedisplay and management of information by providing a supportingapplications component configured to provide a split screen layoutdisplaying SM information and text messages for a favorite contact atdifferent parts of the dynamically updatable wallpaper. In otherembodiments, however, the split screen is not provided as part of thewallpaper. Rather, the split screen is a screen independent of thewallpaper, and that can be displayed to the user via the UI upon theuser selecting a contact of interest.

In one aspect, a computer-implemented method is provided. The methodincludes: displaying, via a user interface of a communication device, adynamically updatable wallpaper comprising a personalized themepersonalized to a user of the communication device. The method alsoincludes updating the dynamically updatable wallpaper to display one ormore animated icons. Displaying the animated icons is based, at least,on detected activity of respective contacts associated with the one ormore animated icons.

In another aspect, an apparatus is provided. The apparatus includes: aprocessor; a UI component configured to display images indicative ofcontacts, wherein the plurality of contacts are predefined by a user ofthe apparatus. The apparatus also includes a messaging componentconfigured to: integrate different types of text messages for one of thecontacts; and provide concurrent display of the text messages and socialmedia information for one of the contacts; and a computer-readablestorage medium storing computer-executable instructions that, ifexecuted, cause the apparatus to perform one or more functions of the UIcomponent or the messaging component.

In another aspect, a computer-readable storage medium is provided. Thecomputer-readable storage medium has instructions stored thereon that,when executed by a processor, cause a method to be performed. The methodincludes: displaying, via a user interface of a communication device, adynamically updatable wallpaper comprising a personalized themepersonalized to a user of the communication device; and updating thedynamically updatable wallpaper to display one or more animated icons,wherein the displaying the one or more animated icons is based, atleast, on detected activity of a respective one or more contactsassociated with the one or more animated icons.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

Non-limiting and non-exhaustive embodiments of various aspects detailedherein are described with reference to the following figures, whereinlike reference numerals refer to like parts.

FIG. 1 illustrates a block diagram of an exemplary system for displayand management of information for communication devices in accordancewith various aspects and embodiments described herein.

FIG. 2 illustrates a block diagram of another exemplary system fordisplay and management of information for communication devices inaccordance with various aspects and embodiments described herein.

FIGS. 3, 4A, 4B, 4C, 4D, 4E and 4F illustrate block diagrams of displayregions of UIs facilitating display of dynamically updatable wallpaperfor a communication device in accordance with various aspects andembodiments described herein.

FIGS. 5, 6, 7A, 7B and 7C illustrate block diagrams of display regionsof UIs facilitating display of widgets for a communication device inaccordance with various aspects and embodiments described herein.

FIGS. 8A, 8B and 8C illustrate block diagrams of display regions of UIsfacilitating display of dynamically updatable wallpaper with widgets fora communication device in accordance with various aspects andembodiments described herein.

FIGS. 9, 10, 11A, 11B and 11C illustrate block diagrams of displayregions of UIs facilitating display via the supporting applicationscomponent in accordance with various aspects and embodiments describedherein.

FIGS. 12, 13, 14 and 15 illustrate flowcharts of exemplary methods forfacilitating display and management of information at a communicationdevice in accordance with various aspects and embodiments describedherein.

FIG. 16 illustrates an exemplary operating environment facilitating thesystems, apparatus, methods and computer-readable storage mediadescribed herein.

FIG. 17 illustrates an exemplary network environment facilitating thesystems, apparatus, methods and computer-readable storage mediadescribed herein.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

Certain illustrative embodiments are described herein in the followingdescription and the annexed drawings. These embodiments are merelyexemplary, non-limiting and non-exhaustive. As such, all modifications,alterations, and variations within the spirit of the embodiments isenvisaged and intended to be covered herein.

Further, in the following description, for purposes of mere explanation,numerous, specific details are set forth in order to facilitate a morethorough understanding of the embodiments described herein, includingthe claimed subject matter. However, as is known to those of ordinaryskill in the art, the embodiments can be practiced, in many instances,without inclusion of the specific details.

As used in this application, the terms “component,” “module,” “system,”“interface,” and the like, are generally intended to refer to hardwareand/or software or software in execution. For example, a component canbe, but is not limited to being, a process running on a processor, aprocessor, an object, an executable, a thread of execution, a programand/or a computer. By way of illustration, both an application runningon a controller and the controller can be a component. One or morecomponents can reside within a process and/or thread of execution and acomponent can be localized on one computer and/or distributed betweentwo or more computers. As another example, an interface can includeinput/output (I/O) components as well as associated processor,application and/or application programming interface (API) components,and can be as simple as a command line or as complex as an IntegratedDevelopment Environment (IDE).

Furthermore, the embodiments can be implemented as a method, apparatusor article of manufacture using standard programming and/or engineeringtechniques to produce software, firmware, hardware, or any combinationthereof to control a computer, apparatus or article of manufacture toimplement the functionality disclosed herein. The term “article ofmanufacture,” as used herein, is intended to encompass a computerprogram, or computer program product, accessible from anycomputer-readable device, computer-readable carrier, computer-readablemedia or computer-readable storage media. As known to those of ordinaryskill in the art, modifications can be made to the above embodimentswithout departing from the spirit of the disclosure.

It will be appreciated by one of skill in the art that a communicationnetwork for systems described herein can include any suitable mobile-and/or wireline-based circuit-switched communication network including aglobal systems for mobile communication (GSM) network, a time divisionmultiple access (TDMA) network, a code division multiple access (CDMA)network, such as IS-95 and subsequent iterations of CDMA technology, anintegrated digital enhanced network (iDEN) network and a public switchedtelephone network (PSTN). Further examples of a communication networkcan include any suitable data packet-switched or combination datapacket/circuit-switched communication network, wired or wirelessinternet protocol (IP) network such as a voice over internet protocol(VoIP) network, an IP data network, a universal mobile telecommunicationsystem (UMTS) network, a general packet radio service (GPRS) network, orother communication networks that provide streaming data communicationover IP and/or integrated voice and data communication over combinationdata packet/circuit-switched technologies.

Similarly, one of ordinary skill in the art will appreciate that acommunication device for systems disclosed herein can include a mobiledevice, mobile phone, a PSTN phone, a cellular communication device, acellular phone, a satellite communication device, a satellite phone, aVoIP phone, a wireless fidelity (WiFi) phone, a dual-mode cellular/WiFiphone, a combination cellular/VoIP/WiFi/Worldwide Interoperability forMicrowave Access (WiMAX) phone or any suitable combination thereof.Specific examples of a mobile device can include, but is not limited to,a cellular device, such as a GSM, TDMA, CDMA, IS-95 and/or iDEN phone, acellular/WiFi device, such as a dual-mode GSM, TDMA, IS-95 and/or iDEN/VoIP phones, UMTS phones UMTS VoIP phones, or like devices orcombinations thereof. To provide support for a mobile device, a gatewayrouting component can include any suitable component that can performcentralized routing within a mobile, satellite, or similar network (butoptionally need not include components that route strictly within a PSTNnetwork), routing between communication networks, between networks ofvarying architecture (e.g., between PSTN, GSM, Universal MobileTelecommunications System (UMTS), Enterprise VoIP, the Internet, orcombinations thereof), and the like. Specific examples of a gatewayrouting component can include, but are not limited to, a gateway mobileswitching center (GMSC), a gateway general packet radio service (GPRS)support node (GGSN), a session border control (SBC) device, or likedevices. Additionally, a data storage component of such a system caninclude any suitable device, process and/or combination device andprocess that can store digital and/or switched information (e.g.,server, database, data store, or the like).

FIG. 1 illustrates a block diagram of an exemplary system for displayand management of information for communication devices in accordancewith various aspects and embodiments described herein. In someembodiments, the display and management of information can befacilitated by dynamically updating wallpaper displayed on thecommunication devices, and/or providing widgets that display SMinformation and/or text messages associated with a contact. In someembodiments, the wallpaper can include the widgets (or widgets can existindependent of the wallpaper) and the widgets can be activated toprovide detailed information regarding any number of different types ofinformation including, but not limited to, news information, weatherinformation, time information, SM information, contacts information,entertainment information, emails, text messages, images or pictures oravatars of selected contacts or the like. In various embodiments, the SMinformation can include any number of different types of information to,from or about users (or SN friends or organizations) with which theuser/owner of the communication device is affiliated. By way of example,but not limitation, SM information can include wall postings, statusupdates or messages from (or to) users or SN friends or organizations.

In various embodiments, the wallpaper and/or widgets can displayat-a-glance views of messages and social updates from selected contactsassociated with and/or stored on the communication device 102, 104. Insome embodiments, the selected contacts can be those indicated as havingan important or otherwise high-level status by the user/owner of thecommunication device 102, 104 on which the contacts are stored or fromwhich the contacts are accessed. In some embodiments, the user of thecommunication device 102, 104 can populate clouds to which thecommunication device 102, 104 is communicatively coupled with selectedinformation regarding favorite or selected contacts and/or SNpreferences. As used herein, the term “contacts” can include informationindicative of a real or legal entity, including, but not limited to, ahuman, organization, group of entities or the like.

In an aspect, the system 100 can include communication devices 102, 104and a core network 106. The communication devices 102, 104 can becommunicatively coupled to the core network 106. In various embodiments,one or more of communication devices 102, 104 can include the software,hardware and/or have the functionality and/or structure (or portionsthereof) of communication device 202 described below (and vice versa).

In various embodiments, the core network 106 can include one or more ofsoftware, hardware and/or combination software and hardware configuredto provide connectivity to and between the communication devices 102,104. The system 100 can include one or more macro, Femto and/or picoaccess points (APs) (not shown), base stations (BS) (not shown) orlandline networks (e.g., optical landline networks, electrical landlinenetworks) (not shown) communicatively coupled between one or more of thecommunication devices 102, 104 and the core network 106 to provideconnectivity between the communication devices 102, 104 and the corenetwork 106. In various embodiments, the communication devices 102, 104can communicate via any number of various types of wireless technologiesincluding, but not limited to, cellular, WiFi, WiMax, wireless localarea networks (WLAN), etc. In corresponding embodiments, the corenetwork 106 can provide cellular, WiFi, WiMAX, WLAN and othertechnologies for facilitating such communication. The core network 106can also include the Internet (or another communication network (e.g.,IP-based network), a digital subscriber line (DSL)-type or broadbandnetwork facilitated by Ethernet or other technology. The core network106 can also include, in various embodiments, servers including, email,multimedia, audio, weather, time, video, news, financial or stockinformation servers. By way of example, but not limitation, the corenetwork 106 can include cloud storage for storing information including,but not limited to, selected contacts for display on the communicationdevices 102, 104.

The core network 106 can also include short message service (SMS)networks and multimedia message service (MMS) networks. The core network106 can also include, but is not limited to, routers, nodes, switches,interfaces, and/or controllers that can facilitate communication of datato or from the communication devices 102, 104. The core network 106 cantransmit and receive voice, text, pictorial, video, audio and/or datatraffic to and from the communication devices 102, 104. While onlycommunication devices 102 and 104 are shown, in various embodiments, thecore network 106 can include or can be communicatively coupled to othercommunication devices inside or outside of the network. In variousembodiments, the network can also include hardware, software and/or acombination of hardware and software for allocating resources to thecommunication devices 102, 104, converting or enforcing protocols,establishing and/or providing levels of Quality of Service (QoS),applications or services in the network, translating signals, and/orperforming other desired functions to facilitate system interoperabilityand communication to or from the communication devices 102, 104.

In various embodiments, the core network 106 can include or can becommunicatively coupled to one or more of SNS servers (not shown),Internet (not shown), multimedia servers (not shown) or email servers(not shown) for communicating one or more of text or email messages,data, pictures, multimedia, voice or video.

The core network 106 can also include databases and/or memory storinginformation and/or computer-readable storage media storingcomputer-executable instructions enabling various operations by thecommunication devices 102, 104. In some embodiments, the core network106 can include databases and/or memory storing computer-executableinstructions and/or settings for providing display and management ofinformation to, from or within the communication devices 102, 104. Insome embodiments, a database can store settings, and/or memory can storecomputer-executable instructions, enabling the communication device 104to provide the messaging as described in greater detail herein. Forexample, the database can store information indicative of time intervalsduring which information (e.g., time, news, and weather) displayed viadynamically updatable wallpaper and/or widgets are updated. The databasecan also include information indicative of whether a contact is afavorite and/or selected contact.

In various embodiments, the communication devices 102, 104 can bemobile, wireless, wireline and/or optical devices. The communicationdevices 102, 104 can include, but are not limited to, a mobile orcellular telephone including, but not limited to, a smartphone,BLUETOOTH® device, a 3GPP UMTS phone, a personal digital assistant(PDA), computer, IP television (IPTV), wireline phone with mobilemessaging functionality, gaming console, a set top box (STB), amulti-media recorder, a multi-media player, a video recorder, a videoplayer, an audio recorder, an audio player, laptop, a printer, a copierand/or a scanner.

In various embodiments, the communication devices 102, 104 can includehardware, software or a combination of hardware and softwarefacilitating operation according to one or more communication protocolsdescribed above with reference to the core network 106, or thefunctionality facilitated by the hardware, software or combinationhardware and software described above with reference to the core network106. The communication protocols and/or functionality can include, butare not limited to, MMS, SMS, WLAN, WiFi, WiMAX, GPRS, IP, IP messaging,BLUETOOTH® protocols, text messaging, electronic mail messaging,facsimile, multimedia and/or any number of other protocols orfunctionalities as described above with reference to the communicationsprotocols or functionalities facilitated by core network 106. In variousembodiments, the communication devices 102, 104 can transmit and/orreceive voice, text, pictorial, video, audio and/or data traffic to andfrom the communication devices 102, 104. In some embodiments, thecommunication devices 102, 104 can include the ANDROID® operatingsystem. In some embodiments, the communication devices 102, 104 can beconfigured to include software developed using the ANDROID® version 2.1or later software development kit.

In some embodiments, the communication devices 102, 104 can includehardware, software and/or a combination of hardware and software tofacilitate providing display and management of information to, from orwithin the communication devices 102, 104 as described herein. Forexample, in various embodiments, as shown at communication device 102,the communication devices 102, 104 can include a messaging component 108and a UI component 110.

In various embodiments, the messaging component 108 can be configured toprocess SM information and/or text messages received from and/ortransmitted to a contact. In various embodiments, the UI component 110can be configured to receive, output or display information (e.g.,dynamically updatable wallpaper, dynamically updatable wallpaper andwidget combined, or widget(s) alone), messaging functions or protocols,provide or enable communication to or from the communication device 102,access information stored within, or store information within, thecommunication device 102 or receive information output from thecommunication device 102.

In one embodiment, the UI component 110 is configured to display aplurality of images indicative of a plurality of contacts, wherein theplurality of contacts are determines by the user of the communicationdevice 102.

The messaging component 108 is configured to provide concurrent accessto text messages and SM information for one of the plurality ofcontacts. In some embodiments, providing concurrent access to textmessages and SM information for the contact is based on the UI component110 receiving a single input selecting the contact.

The communication device 102 can also include a processor and acomputer-readable storage medium storing computer-executableinstructions that, if executed, cause the apparatus to perform one ormore functions of the UI component 110 or the messaging component 108.

In some embodiments, the UI component 110 is further configured toreceive an input indicative of a selection of one of the plurality ofthe contacts. The plurality of images can be a plurality of pictures insome cases, and a selected picture can be displayed with a picture curlto provide an efficient visual indicator to the user of thecommunication device 102 as to which contact has been selected.

In some embodiments, the UI component 110 is further configured toreceive an input indicative of a selection of one of the contacts; andconcurrently display one or more text messages and SM informationassociated with the selected contact. In some embodiments, the textmessages and the SM information are displayed concurrently but indifferent portions of the UI.

In various embodiments, the UI component 110 can display dynamicallyupdatable wallpaper that includes animated icons (e.g., fish, buoys,etc.) representative of contacts. The animated icons can be assigned tothe contacts by the user of the communication device 102.

While the embodiments described include animated icons being assigned bythe user of the communication device, in some embodiments, the contactor any third-party can send the user of the communication device aselected icon or avatar to represent the contact. As such, the contactor a third-party can select the icon representative of the contact.

Additionally, as used herein, the terms icons and animated icons eachmean images, animations, figures, pictures, avatars capable of becominganimated (or having animation displayed therefore through action of theicons).

Turning back to FIG. 1, the animated icons can be displayed by the UIcomponent 110 upon the messaging component 108 detecting social networkactivity of the contact corresponding to the icon and/or receipt of atext message from (or, in some cases, transmission of a text message to)the contact. While exemplary animated icons are fish and buoys, theanimated icons can be any number of objects or images able to bevisually displayed in a wallpaper.

By way of example, but not limitation, different wallpaper withdifferent personalized themes can be displayed via the communicationdevice 102. Accordingly, embodiments herein provide a personalizedscheme personalized to the mobile user. Other examples of wallpapers(besides the fish scheme) providing the personalized schemes describedherein include, but are not limited to, super hero themes, mailmanversus dog themes, owl (or other bird) messenger themes, a jellyfish andocean theme and poster themes.

The activity displayed to indicate the social networking activity and/ormessaging can be based on the theme. For example, in a poster theme, newactivity can be displayed as a new horizontal row of text above theprevious rows of text, forming an image of a poster with horizontal rowsof wording in which the rows represents different activity. Thewallpaper can depict activity by scrolling down previously-displayedmessaging information, and displaying new messaging, such as that shownon FIG. 4D.

As another example, a jellyfish and ocean theme in which the wallpaperactivity displays the jellyfish swimming in the ocean and providinginformation about messaging is shown in FIG. 4E.

As another example, the owl messenger theme in which the wallpaperactivity displays the owl (or other bird) flying and carrying anenvelope (or other indicia of messaging content) is shown in FIG. 4F.

In various embodiments, the systems, methods and apparatus herein canalso display messaging information for the wallpapers, and can do so atvarying levels of privacy. The messaging information can be messaginginformation via text messages or via posts and other messages from SNSs.

By way of example, but not limitation, private, conservative and openlevels of messaging can be displayed via the wallpaper. Since themessages are displayed via the wallpaper, some users may want to limitthe information about the messages that can seen by others who are nearthe communication device and therefore able to see the wallpaper andmessaging information. The level of messaging can be set (and re-set) bythe user of the communication device according to the user'spreferences. In some embodiments, the preference can be automaticallychanged according to a time of day, day of the week or any othercriteria designated by the user.

With a private level of privacy, a visual indication that a message hasbeen received can be displayed but details of the contact that sent themessage and details of the content of the message would not bedisplayed. For example, in the above-referenced owl messenger scheme, anowl can be displayed merely holding an envelope. As another example, inthe poster theme, text can display wording merely informing the userthat a message has been received (e.g., “You received a text message”).

With a conservative level of privacy, a visual indication of theidentity of a sender of a message can be displayed. In some embodiments,the source of the message (text message versus FACEBOOK® message) butdetails of the content of the message would not be displayed. Forexample, in the above-referenced owl messenger scheme, the owl can bedisplayed holding an envelope that displays the name of the sender ofthe message. As another example, in the poster theme, text can displaywording merely informing the user that a message has been received froma particular contact (that is named as part of the display, e.g., “Robsent you a text message”).

With an open level of privacy, a visual indication of the identity of asender of a message can be displayed along with the source of themessage and the content of the message. For example, in theabove-referenced owl messenger scheme, the owl can be displayed holdingan opened enveloped that shows a piece of paper that includes the nameof the sender, the source of the message and the content of the message.As another example, in the poster theme, text can display wording merelyinforming the user that of the name of the particular contact, source ofthe contact and the message content (e.g., “Email from Rob. Subject:Party Tonight. Email Message: Are you still going to the party tonight?Whose driving?”).

In some embodiments, with the open level of privacy, the content of themessage is abbreviated and the user must select or activate the UI (orscroll through the truncated message) to display the entire message.

Widgets can also be displayed in addition to or in lieu of thewallpaper. A widget can include avatars or pictures displaying the oneor more contacts when the widget is in a collapsed state, and a historyof SM information and/or text messages for the contact (along with theavatars and pictures) when the widget is in an expanded state. Invarious embodiments, the SM information and the text messages can bedisplayed by the UI component 110 in different portions of the UI.

While display and management of information are described with referenceto communication device 102, in various embodiments, the communicationdevice 102 can be or include one or more of the functions or structure(or portions thereof) of communication device 104 or 202 (and viceversa).

FIG. 2 illustrates a block diagram of an exemplary communication systemfacilitating display and management of information for communicationdevice 202. The system 200 can include a communication device 202. Insome embodiments, the system 200 can also include a network 240, asocial network gateway (SNG) component 250 and/or one or more SNSs 260,262, 264. The communication device 202 can be communicatively coupled,via the network 240, to the SNG and/or one or more of the SNSs 260, 262,264.

The communication device 202 can include a UI component 214, a messagingcomponent 222, a contacts mechanism 224, a SM component 232, a processor210, memory 212, I/O component 216, notification component 218 andoverlay component 220. One or more of the UI component 214, messagingcomponent 222, contacts mechanism 224, SM component 232, processor 210,memory 212, I/O component 216, notification component 218 and/or overlaycomponent 220 can be communicatively coupled to one another to performthe functions described by communication device 202 provided herein.

The I/O component 216 can include hardware, software and/or acombination of hardware and software facilitating receipt and output ofinformation to and from the communication device 202. The informationreceived can be SM information, text messages, emails, news, weather,sports, time, global positioning system (GPS) information and/or inputsprovided by a user of the communication device 202.

Turning next to the UI component 214, the UI component 214 can controlthe UI for the communication device 202. The UI can be any number ofdifferent types of UIs including, but not limited to, a graphical userinterface (GUI), a touch-sensitive interface (e.g., a touch screen), aninterface having capability for receiving audio or video input (andoutputting audio or video information) and the like. In some embodimentsdescribed herein, the UI can include a touch screen configured toreceive inputs at the touch screen and graphically output informationfor information display and/or management from the touch screen.

The UI can be enabled to display alpha and/or numeric characters,pictorial and image content as well as widget and other animated icons,buttons, text boxes and other visual content in various embodiments fordisplaying and managing information via the communication device 202. Byway of example, but not limitation, the GUI can display dynamicallydynamically updatable wallpaper, widgets, widgets in wallpaper and/orsupporting applications such as that shown and described in greaterdetail below with reference to FIGS. 3, 4A, 4B, 4C, 5, 6, 7A, 7B, 7C,8A, 8B, 8C, 9, 10, 11A, 11B and 11C.

In some embodiments, dynamically updatable wallpaper displays animatedicons, images and activity of the animated icons and images to representactivity or messages to or from one or more SN friends or contacts withwhich the user of the communication device 202 is affiliated. Forexample, the wallpaper can be updated to display different animatedicons, images and/or pictures as social activity being monitored by thecommunication device 202 changes.

Widgets can be provided to facilitate display of images or avatars ofcontacts and/or various information associated with the contacts. Invarious embodiments, a contact can be selected and one or more differentapplications can be launched by selecting the contact. In someembodiments, the application is launched immediately upon a single clickor tap on the portion of the UI corresponding to the contact. Forexample, in one embodiment, the application can be a SN applicationcontrolled by the SM component 232. The SM component 232 can aggregateSM information and/or voice calls or messages associated with theselected contact.

The UI component 214 can include an dynamically updatable wallpapercomponent 204, a widget component 206 and a supporting applicationscomponent 208. The dynamically updatable wallpaper component 204 isconfigured to generate and update the wallpaper displayed on thecommunication device 202. The wallpaper can utilize bitmap assets todevelop different styles of the wallpaper since simple layering andmovement of images is described herein. More complex object deformationscan be performed using two dimensional drawing primitives (e.g.,ANDROID® SKIA 2D drawing library) or the use of Open Graphics Libraryfor Embedded Systems (OpenGLES).

The wallpaper can be displayed based on the social network activityand/or text messages received from and/or transmitted to a contact. Thecontact can be designated by an icon and the icon can appear on thewallpaper when the social network activity is detected and/or textmessages are received from or transmitted to the contact associated withthe icon. The contact can be assigned to the icon by the user of thecommunication device 202.

Examples of dynamically updatable wallpaper are shown in FIGS. 3, 4A, 4Band 4C. The wallpaper 300 is dynamically updatable. Turning to suchfigures, the dynamically updatable wallpaper can include a viewable area302, foreground elements 306 and, in some cases, background elements304. The viewable area 302 is not actionable in some embodiments. Theforeground elements 306 can include animated icons that representcontacts and/or other animated icons that represent information that theend user can easily view and understand. The foreground elements 306shown in FIG. 3 include the water 312, fish 314 (which can appear on thewallpaper when there has been social network activity by a favoritecontact), buoy 316 (which can appear when a message associated with afavorite contact has been detected) and non-active fish 318 (which canrepresent contacts for which no social network activity and/or newmessages have been detected for a period of time and/or for which allmessages have been read). The background elements 304 can provide acontext for the locations and/or activity of the animated icons. Forexample, the background elements 304 can include the clouds 308 or plane310 shown on the wallpaper.

Turning to FIGS. 4A, 4B, 4C, dynamically updatable wallpaper is shownfor three states of activity by contacts identified by the user. Forexample, in FIG. 4A, there is no contact activity and hence onlynon-active fish 408, 410 are shown. As shown, in some embodiments,non-active fish are shown underwater. Accordingly, a user can easilydetermine that there has been no activity by favorite contacts by simplyviewing the wallpaper on the communication device 202 and noting thatonly non-active fish are shown.

In FIG. 4B, the communication device 202 has detected social networkactivity for the contact associated with the fish 412. As such, thewallpaper is updated by the dynamically updatable wallpaper component204 to display the fish 412. The fish is shown jumping from the waterrepeatedly in some embodiments until the user reviews the social networkactivity.

In FIG. 4C, the communication device 202 has detected social networkactivity for another contact (e.g., the contact associated with the fish414). As such, the wallpaper is updated by the dynamically updatablewallpaper component 204 to display the fish 412 and fish 414. The userof the communication device 202 can therefore visually detect thatsocial network activity has transpired for two of the user's favoritecontacts by merely watching the display of the communication device 202.

Further, in some embodiments, the icon and/or activity of the icon canbe assigned or generated based on a priority that can be assigned to thecontact. For example, users with higher priority (within the set offavorite contacts) can be represented by bigger animated icons (oranimated icons considered to have more power or be more dominant) thananimated icons that represent contacts having lower priority. Thepriority can be assigned by the user of the communication device. By wayof another example, but not limitation, the activity of an icon can varyby the priority of the contact represented by the icon. For example, thespeed of the activity can be faster for social network activity ordetected messages associated with a higher priority icon. In someembodiments, for example, the speed or frequency at which the fish jumpsout of the water can be faster for a higher-priority contact than for alower-priority contact.

As shown in FIGS. 4A, 4B and 4C, the dynamically updatable wallpaper canalso include animated icons 402, 404, 406 that can be activated todisplay information and/or launch an application. For example, icon 402can be activated to display news or weather information, icon 404 can beactivated to display the time, and icon 406 can be activated to displayemail or launch an email application.

Turning back to FIG. 2, the UI component 214 also includes a widgetcomponent 206. The widget component 206 can display a widget on the UIof the communication device 202. In various embodiments, the widget in acollapsed state can be a display of one or more contacts such as thatshown in FIG. 5. In various embodiments, the widget in an expanded statecan be a display of one or more contacts and SM information and/or textmessages to or from a contact such as that shown in FIG. 6.

As shown in FIG. 5, the widget can be displayed as pictures of the oneor more contacts and, as shown at contact Allison 500, a badge orindicia 504 of a number of messages received from or transmitted toAllison. To activate the widget, thereby causing the widget to bedisplayed in the expanded state, a user can tap on the portion of the UIcorresponding to the contact 500, bubble 504 portion or the contactstrip 502 portion of the widget.

As shown in FIG. 5, at 502, an up arrow is displayed and can be clickedto make the widget active. As shown at 504, a badge or other indicia ofa number of unread messages and/or SM information is associated with thecontact is provided.

As shown at 506, a picture representing a contact is displayed and at510, an avatar representing a contact is displayed. The strip can alsoinclude the names of contacts, as shown and/or a unique color 508 and/orpattern 514 assignment for the contact. The color and/or patternassignment can be assigned by the user of the communication device 202.In some embodiments, a maximum number of users can be displayed in thewidget. The widget can be configured to resize and/or center accordingto the number of contacts displayed.

FIG. 6 is described in more detail as follows. At 602, a contact stripportion of the widget is shown. The contact strip portion shows picturesrepresenting five contacts pre-selected by the user. The widget can bedisplayed in a collapsed state in which SM information associated with acontact and/or text messages associated with a contact are notdisplayed. Rather, in this embodiment, the widget merely displays one ormore contacts and indicia of a number of messages or amount of socialnetwork activity associated with each of the one or more contacts (asshown in FIG. 5).

Centering can be relative to the message bubble 604 portion of thewidget, also shown in FIG. 6. The message bubble can include up to apredetermined number of recent messages. The user of the communicationdevice can scroll through the messages vertically and/or tap on a singlemessage to take action relative to the message. Exemplary actions caninclude replying to the message, expanding the message on the wallpaperor the like. The message bubble can include a pointer pointing to thecontact within the contact strip 602 portion of the widget for which themessage is associated. While not shown in FIG. 6, bubbles can alsoinclude SM information (as shown and discussed below with reference toFIG. 9).

In various embodiments, the contact strip 602 portion of the widget canbe vertical, diagonal, circular or any number of other shapes. Inanother example, the widget is merely an arrangement of one or morecontacts, and need not be formed into a contiguous strip of any shape.For example, the widget could be displayed as a random arrangement ofpictures or avatars on the wallpaper.

The message bubble 602 portion of the widget is shown in differentstates in FIGS. 7A, 7B and 7C. In FIG. 7A, a message bubble 700 havingan unread direct message is shown. The message is an SMS or MMS messageor any other type of message sent privately to the user via a socialnetwork. For unread messages, an indicator 702 that the message is newis displayed next to the activity source/timestamp information. Acollapsing arrow 704 is provided for collapsing or expanding themessage, vertical scroll bar or other vertical scroll control 706 isprovided for vertically scrolling through one or more messages in themessage bubble and a copy of the message 708 is shown in the messagebubble as well.

In FIG. 7B, a message bubble 710 having a read direct message is shown.No indicator of a new message is included, contrary to that shown inmessage bubble 700. In some embodiments, the message is considered readonce it has been viewed in the expanded state widget. However, in someembodiments, a message truncated because it is longer than the viewablearea of the message bubble will not be considered read until asupporting application is launched to display the entire message. Thesupporting application can display the message such as that shown inFIGS. 9 and 10 (discussed in more detail below with reference tosupporting applications component 208 of FIG. 2). In some embodiments,although not shown, the message can include “Read” text or any otherindicator to indicator that the message has been read.

In FIG. 7C, once a direct message has had a reply transmitted, themessage bubble can be as shown in message bubble 712. An indicator 714indicator that a reply message has been transmitted can be displayed.

FIGS. 8A, 8B and 8C illustrate wallpaper and widget combinations on thecommunication device. At FIG. 8A, the wallpaper is shown indicatingcontact Allison having active social network activity (e.g., jumpingfish) and an unread message (buoy) from Allison. The widget (shown asthe contact strip) is in the collapsed state. Although not shown, in anyof the embodiments illustrating contacts, the icon assigned to a contactcan be shown below the contact for ease of identification by the user ofthe communication device. As such, in embodiments wherein a contactpre-selects his/her own icon, and sends the icon or informationindicative of the icon to the user, the user can readily identify thecontact based on the icon without resort to memorizing the identify ofeach contact for each icon.

At FIG. 8B, the user taps on (or otherwise activates) contact Allison toawake the widget with regard to Allison's activity. In this case,Allison sent SM information via a TWITTER® message 3 minutes ago and theSM information is shown by displaying the widget in the expanded state.At FIG. 8C, the user taps on another contact, Sarah, to view SMinformation and/or messages associated with Sarah. The user can flickthe message bubble to vertically scroll through the message.

In some embodiments, group messaging (not shown) between two or morecontacts can be facilitated. In this embodiment, multiple contacts (orindicia or animated icons representing contacts) can be shown via theUI. For example, in lieu of showing only a single contact on a screensuch as that shown at FIG. 8C, multiple contacts can be shown on thescreen. The screen can also display the social network activity and/ormessaging between a group of contacts and the user and/or betweencontacts. As such, the user can monitor activity from multiple contactsof interest concurrently.

Turning back to FIG. 2, the UI component 214 also includes a supportingapplications component 208. The supporting applications component 208can provide a display of SM information and text messages uponactivation of the widget discussed above with reference to FIGS. 5 and6. For example, the supporting applications component 208 can controlthe display of the SM information, text messages and contact informationand static icons for launching applications in three respective portionsof the UI.

By way of example, but not limitation, FIGS. 9 and 10 illustratedisplays controlled by the supporting applications component 208. Asshown, contact information 902, 1002 and static icons 904, 1004activatable for launching applications are displayed in a first portion906, 1006 of the UI, SM information 908, 1008 is displayed in a secondportion 910, 1010 of the UI, text messages (or private messages 912,1012 sent to or from a SNS are displayed in a third portion 914, 1014 ofthe UI. Avatars or pictures 916, 1016 representing contacts aredisplayed in a fourth portion 918, 1018 of the UI. While the UI is shownwith the arrangements of FIGS. 9 and 10, the SM information, messaging,contact information, static activatable for launching applicationsand/or the avatars and pictures need not be arranged as shown and can bearranged in any number of configurations such that different informationis provided in different non-overlapping portions of the UI.

FIG. 11A illustrates activation of the supporting applications displayof FIGS. 9 and 10. The supporting applications display is initiated fora contact based on the communication device detecting selection of thecontact by the user of the communication device. In the embodimentshown, the contact is selected by tapping on the area of the UI thatcorresponds to the contact.

FIGS. 11B and 11C illustrate supporting applications displays onceactivated. For example, FIG. 11B shows text messaging in a region 1102above the region 1104 for SM information. FIG. 11C shows the ability todrag up and down recent conversations and/or SM information and theability to click on action bar including the static 1106 that areactivatable to launch an application.

In some embodiments, a supporting applications component 208 (which willbe discussed in detail below) can cause the UI to display one or moredifferent views simultaneously or concurrently. The different viewsinclude a view of one or more contacts with which the communicationdevice 202 is associated (or that are stored on or associated with thecommunication device 202). For example, a contact strip can display oneor more images associated with a profile for contacts. The UI can detectinput at the UI for launching other applications associated with theicon. For example, a phone icon in this display would launch a dialerapplication to initiate a call to one of the contacts. The telephonenumber called can be the telephone number associated with the contactand accessible by the communication device 202.

Another view can include a communications view that displays voice callsand/or messages. Another view can include a social activity view thatcan display SN activity from SN friends with which the user of thecommunication device 202 is associated. SN activity includes activityprovided to or from a SNS, including, but not limited to, FACEBOOK®,TWITTER®, MYSPACE®, MY LIFE®, LINKEDIN®. The UI can also detect input atthe UI for initiating an inline reply to the social network activity.For example, the social network activity can be a wall post and the UIcan detect an input at the UI (e.g., touch input) selecting the wallpost. Detection of the selection of the post can enable the messagingcomponent 222 to initiate inline reply functionality for generating aninline reply to the wall post. The reply can then be posted at the SNS.

Turning back to FIG. 2, the messaging component 222 is configured totransmit and/or receive the messages associated with contacts. In someembodiments, messaging component 222 can provide one or more of thefunctions of the messaging component 108 of FIG. 1.

In some embodiments, the messaging component 222 can perform functionsfor replying to a message. In some embodiments, incoming messages can beidentified and a determination can be made as to whether a user hasinteracted with the message via a native messaging application. Usingthe native messaging application can enable all types of MMS messages(e.g., slideshow, video, voice recording) to be seamlessly viewed.

In some embodiments, the messaging component 222 is configured tocontrol the operation of one or more messaging applications. By way ofexample, but not limitation, messaging applications can includetext-based, voice-based, video-based and/or combination voice andaudio-based applications such as text messaging, instant messaging,private messages sent via SNSs, internet and landline telephony, and/oraudio and textual voicemail communications. By way of other examples,but without limitation, messaging applications can include applicationsutilizing short message service (SMS), multimedia message service (MMS),instant messaging (IM) protocols and/or text over internet protocol(ToIP) messaging.

The messaging component 222 can be configured to receive inputs from theI/O component 216 and format, transmit and/or receive messaging contentin response to the inputs received. The messaging content can include athreaded list of one or more messages or calls received at ortransmitted from the communication device 202 for one or more contacts.The messages can be text messages, instant messages, email messages,voicemail messages or any other messages that can be provided to theuser. The calls can be telephone calls communicated over PSTN networks,cellular networks and/or Internet telephony calls. The content of themessages and/or calls can be provided in message bubbles or other shapesor indicia and, in some embodiments, can be associated with or displayedwith an identifier of the initiator of the messaging content. In someembodiments, the messaging component 222 can facilitate creation andtransmission of a quick reply.

The contacts mechanism 224 can include the contacts component 226 forinitiating the contacts application providing contacts information for acontact. In some embodiments, the contacts component 226 is configuredto control the operation of one or more contact applications. Thecontact applications can provide and/or enable display, deletion orediting contacts-related information. By way of example, but notlimitation, contacts-related information can include in case ofemergency (ICE) information such as names and contact information ofemergency contacts, information regarding allergies, medications andother health-related information provided by the owner of thecommunication device 202.

The contacts-related information can also include voice, email and/orgeographical contact information for an individual or group in acontacts repository accessible by the communication device 2022

In some embodiments, the contacts component 226 includes a built-incontacts sync mechanism that applications with a centralized API. ThisAPI allows for contacts to pull SM information from several differentsocial networking accounts. The merge provides the ability to have asingle view of a contact and all of the streams of SM information forthe contact.

In some embodiments, a user can join social network friends withcontacts in the communication device 202 contacts address book. Afterthe SNS account has been verified and contacts have been synced, theuser is signed into the SNS. The SNS contact list can display the SNSfriends that are not joined with a contact in the communication device202 address book. The user can then join the social network friend tothe corresponding contact.

In some embodiments, the communication device can provide functionalityfor linking contacts, such as that described with reference to the SMcomponent 232.

The contacts mechanism 224 can also include a data store component 230for storing information associated with the contact. Such informationcan include, but is not limited to, animated icons, avatars and/orpictures assigned to a contact.

In some embodiments, the contacts repository can be included in the datastore component 230 of the communication device 202. As such, thecontacts-related information can be mobile, home, work and/or faxnumbers, email addresses, physical street addresses, social networkidentification information, a social network identification, or thelike. The contacts-related information can also include informationabout the individual or the group including, but not limited to,biographical information such as the birthday or date of incorporationof the individual and group, respectively, favorite foods of anindividual and/or other information specific to the individual or groupthat the user of the communication device 202 can want to access. Thecontacts-related information can include information that the user hasstored locally on the communication device 202 (e.g., in the addressbook of the communication device 202) and/or that the user can accessfrom a location that is remote from the physical location of thecommunication device 202.

The communication device 202 also can include a processor 210. Theprocessor 210 can enable the communication device 202 to process datarelating to display and/or management of information, updating thewallpaper, activating or displaying widgets or static that can beactivated to launch applications and/or provide news, weather, time oremail information, displaying information on the UI, generating ordisplaying an overlay display region, generating or processingnotifications and associated notification-related information, and thelike. In some embodiments, the processor 210 can be configured toexecute computer-executable instructions to perform one or more of thefunctions described herein for the communication device 202, and thememory 212 can store the computer-executable instructions and/orinformation for performing the operations described herein.

In various embodiments, the processor 210 can be configured to conferfunctionality, at least in part, to substantially any component withinthe communication device 202, in accordance with aspects of the subjectinnovation. As another example, the processor 210 can facilitateenabling the communication device 202 to process data (e.g., symbols,bits, or chips) for multiplexing/demultiplexing,modulation/demodulation, such as implementing direct and inverse fastFourier transforms, selection of modulation rates, selection of datapacket formats, inter-packet times, and the like.

In various embodiments, the communication device 202 can include anotification component 218. The notification component 218 can beconfigured to generate notifications from the communication device 202.The notification component 218 can be configured to automaticallyre-size notifications to fit the screen size for the communicationdevice 202 in landscape (or portrait) orientation and/or based onwhether a media is attached to the notification. For example, if mediais attached to a notification, the media can be re-sized forpresentation in a particular orientation.

The notification component 218 can also receive one or morenotifications from one or more communication devices (e.g., mobilecommunication devices, application servers, social networking sites,etc.) or generate notifications relating to local applications (e.g.,electronic calendar application, alarm clock application, etc.). Thenotification component 218 also can facilitate processing the receivedor generated notifications and associated notification-relatedinformation to facilitate presenting the notification and/or desirednotification-related information to the communication device user viathe UI (e.g., overlay display region) and/or associated UI components(e.g., speakers, vibration generator, etc.).

In various embodiments, notifications can include, but are not limitedto, notifications indicating an alarm, missed alarm, message quickreply, a new message notification, low battery power, mute state,incoming call, volume, and/or system notifications. In variousembodiments, the alarms and other notifications can be displayed orotherwise output from the communication device 202, and/or incomingcalls can be received on the communication device 202, while thecommunication device 202 is in the timeout state.

In various embodiments, the communication device 202 can also include anoverlay component 220. The overlay component 220 can control the displayof an overlay of information on the UI of the communication device 202.An overlay component 220 can overlay alarms, notifications, text,animated or static icons and/or other information for the display andmanagement of information described herein.

In some embodiments, the overlay can be a temporary overlay that isdisplayed during a time interval corresponding with an event. Forexample, indicia of an incoming message can be overlayed over otherinformation displayed by the UI. The indicia of the incoming message caninclude any information for alerting a user that an incoming message isin progress and/or for displaying information about the incomingmessage. In some embodiments, the incoming message can include the name,telephone number associated with the message, date of the incomingmessage, time of the incoming message and/or text the entirety, or aportion, of the message. The overlay can be a temporary overlay that isdisplayed during a time interval that is concurrent with the time thatthe message is incoming. In some embodiments, information or indicia ofthe incoming message can be overlaid on the screen. In some embodiments,on-going calls and/or the timer counting down during the timeout statecan be displayed in an overlay on the screen and/or overlaid on theprevious content of the screen.

The communication device 202 can include a memory 212. The memory 212can store information and/or settings and/or computer-executableinstructions for performing one or more functions described herein forthe communication device 202. In various embodiments, the memory 212 canstore data structures (e.g., user data, application data, metadata);code structure(s) (e.g., modules, objects, classes, procedures) orinstructions; message hashes; neighbor cell list; information relatingto securing the communication device 202 and information associatedtherewith, displaying information in the UI display screen, generatingor displaying an overlay display region, generating or processingnotifications and associated notification-related information; networkor device information like policies and specifications; attachmentprotocols; code sequences for scrambling, spreading and pilot (e.g.,reference signal(s)) transmission; frequency offsets; cell IDs; encodingalgorithms; compression algorithms; decoding algorithms; decompressionalgorithms; and so on. In an aspect, the processor 210 can befunctionally coupled (e.g., through a memory bus) to the memory 212 inorder to store and retrieve information (e.g., neighbor cell list;information relating to securing the communication device 202 andinformation associated therewith, displaying information in the UIdisplay screen, generating or displaying an overlay display region,generating or processing notifications and associatednotification-related information; frequency offsets; desired algorithms;etc.) desired to operate and/or confer functionality, at least in part,to, the messaging component 222, UI component 214, overlay component220, notification component 218, SM component 232, contacts mechanism224 and/or substantially any other operational aspects or components ofthe communication device 202.

The communication device 202 can also include a SM component 232 thatcan include multiple components for communicatively coupling thecommunication device 202 to the SNSs 260, 262, 264. In the embodimentshown, the SM component 232 includes a FACEBOOK® content component 234,TWITTER® content component 236 and any other content component for a SNS238.

The content components can provide functionality for accessing andtransmitting SM information between the SNSs 260, 262, 264 and the SMcomponent 232 on individual connections as compared to an aggregatedconnection. As such, each of the FACEBOOK content component 234 andTWITTER content component 236, for example, transmit and receive onlyFACEBOOK and TWITTER SM, respectively. The connections are dedicatedconnections dedicated for a particular SNS.

In various embodiments, the SM component 232 is configured to controlthe receipt, aggregation, generation, output and/or filtering of SMinformation at the communication device 202. By way of example, but notlimitation, SM information can include, but is not limited to,information associated with or output from SM feeds, blog information,chat information, instant messaging information, and the like. The SMinformation can be displayed in any number of arrangements including,but not limited to, the subject matter of the SM feed, the socialnetworking site from which the SM feed is provided and/or thechronological order of the SM feeds. In some embodiments, the SMinformation can include comments posted (or a number of comments posted)in association with one or more SM feeds for the individual. In someembodiments, one or more comments can be shown on the UI with the one ormore feeds. The SM applications can include applications that providesocial media feeds, news feeds and wall postings from FACEBOOK®,activity updates (e.g., tweets) from TWITTER® or other information fromSNSs such as MYSPACE®, websites of interest and the like.

Turning to the SNG component 250, the SNG component 250 can beconfigured to communicate with the SNSs 260, 262, 264. The SNG component250 can transmit information to the SNSs 260, 262, 264 and/or receiveinformation from the SNSs 260, 262, 264.

The SNSs 260, 262, 264 can be the FACEBOOK® SNS, TWITTER® SNS and/orMYSPACE® SNS in various embodiments. In other embodiments, the SNSs canbe any sites from which SM information can be retrieved by thecommunication device 202, including, but not limited to, the LINKEDIN(and design)® SNS, the MYLIFE® SNS and the like. In some embodiments,the communication device 202, the internet 240 and the SNG component 250(and in various embodiments, one or more of the SNSs 260, 262, 264) canbe communicatively coupled to one another to perform the functions ofsystem 200 described herein.

In some embodiments, the SNG component 250 can provide a gateway betweenthe SNSs 260, 262, 264 and the SM component 232 of the communicationdevice 202. The SNG component 250 can receive SM information from theSNSs 260, 262, 264 and transmit the information to the communicationdevice 202 (and/or the SM component 232 of the communication device202). The SM component 232 can aggregate the SM information from theSNSs 260, 262, 264 and, as such, connecting to the SNG component 250 canprovide a single connection for the communication device 202 over whichthe communication device 202 can assemble and optimize data and other SMfeeds. In some embodiments, the data and SM feeds can be in the networkand/or in the cloud.

In some embodiments, in lieu of or in addition to employing theconnection between the SNG component 250 and the SM component 232 toprovide aggregated SM information, the system 200 can include aframework whereby individual connections are provided from the SNSs 260,262, 264 to the communication device 202. In some embodiments, availablepublic application programming interfaces (APIs) can be employed toassemble data and/or SM feeds on the communication device 202. As such,the communication device 202 can be configured to retrieve informationfrom the SNSs 260, 262, 264 and/or to provide information to the SNSs260, 262, 264 using native APIs.

In embodiments of the system 200 that include the SNG component 250, theSNG component 250 can include hardware, software and/or a combination ofhardware and software for providing communication between the SNSs 260,262, 264 and the communication device 202. In various embodiments, theSNG component 250 can be a network server with which the communicationdevice 202 is communicatively coupled. In some embodiments, the SNGcomponent 250 can be located on a first network with the communicationdevice 202 and the SNSs 260, 262, 264 can be located on a secondnetwork. The second network can be included in the internet 240 in someembodiments.

By way of example, but not limitation, in some embodiments, credentialsfor the communication device 202 to sign-in to or connect to or retrieveinformation from a SNS can be received at the communication device 202and output to the SNG component 250. The SNG component 250 can beconfigured to receive the credential information and output thecredentials to the SNS of interest.

By way of other examples, but not limitation, the SNG component 250 canbe configured to perform registration of the communication device 202,transmit login and logoff information for the user of the communicationdevice 202 from the SNSs 260, 262, 264, retrieve data and/or feeds fromthe SNSs 260, 262, 264, retrieve SN contact activity information (e.g.,notifications, status updates, wall postings, changes to SM profileinformation, photos, avatars and the like).

In various embodiments as described herein and with reference to anynumber of different applications including, but not limited to, amessaging application, a contacts application and/or a social mediaapplication, where an entity, person or individual is discussed, theentity, person or individual can be a legal or natural entity, person orindividual. Similarly, in various embodiments as described herein andwith reference to any number of different applications including, butnot limited to, a messaging application, a contacts application and/or asocial media application, where an entity or group is discussed herein,the entity or group can include one or more legal or natural entities,persons or individuals. By way of example, but not limitation, an entityor group could be an organization, a business entity, a group of humans,and/or a group including a legal and a natural person or entity.

Turning now to methods 1200, 1300, 1400 and 1500, FIGS. 12, 13, 14 and15 illustrate flowcharts of exemplary methods for facilitating displayand management of information at a communication device in accordancewith various aspects and embodiments described herein. Referring firstto FIG. 12, at 1202, method 1200 can include displaying, via a userinterface of a communication device, a dynamically updatable wallpapercomprising a personalized theme personalized to a user of thecommunication device. At 1204, method 1200 can include updating thedynamically updatable wallpaper to display one or more animated icons,wherein the displaying the one or more animated icons is based, atleast, on detected activity of a respective one or more contactsassociated with the one or more animated icons.

The animated icons can be associated with different contacts. Theanimated icons can be associated by the user of the communication deviceat time of device setup and/or as new contacts are made or the userdetermines that a contact is a favorite contact or of a high enoughlevel of contact (or that there is a great enough interest by the userof watching the social network activity and/or being alerted of messagesfor the contact) that assigning the contact to an icon is warranted. Insome embodiments, up to five contacts can be assigned to icons. In otherembodiments, any number of contacts can be assigned to icons, limitedonly by the display area of the wallpaper for the communication device.

By way of example, but not limitation, if social network activity isdetected for a first contact, the icon can be displayed on the wallpaperand if social network activity is detected for a second contact, asecond icon can be displayed. As shown in FIG. 4B, the icon can be afish, for example, with one fish representing a first contact and asecond fish (such as that shown in 4C) representing activity of twocontacts.

In some embodiments, at 1206, method 1200 can include updating thedynamically updatable wallpaper to display activity of the one or moreanimated icons, wherein the activity is based on the type of thedetected activity. The activity can be indicative of detected socialnetwork activity. The activity can be indicative of a read or unreadstate of messages.

The activity can be any of a number of different types of movements orvisualizations of the animated icons. For example, when social networkactivity is detected, the icon can be displayed jumping. With referenceto FIG. 4B, the fish icon can leap out of the water when social networkactivity for the associated contact is detected.

Turning now to FIGS. 13, 1202 and 1204 can be as described withreference to FIG. 12. At 1302, method 1300 can include updating thedynamically updatable wallpaper to display activity of the one or moreanimated icons, wherein the activity is indicative of a read or unreadstate of the detected message. For example, in some embodiments, when amessage is received for a contact, the icon associated with the contactmay be displayed as performing an action repeatedly until the message isread (e.g., jumping, blinking, turning, or any other repeated action).By contrast, in some embodiments, when a message is read and there is norecent social network activity for a contact, the icon associated withthe contact can be displayed having a non-repetitive activity and/orbeing located in a certain region in the wallpaper. For example, theicon can be a fish in water and can be displayed under water when thereis no recent social activity and/or all messages have been read from thecontact.

Turning now to FIGS. 14, 1202 and 1204 can be as described withreference to FIG. 12. At 1402, method 1400 can include displaying awidget on the dynamically updatable wallpaper. The widget can be adisplay of one or more contacts. For example, the widget can be a stripdisplaying one or more contacts (or avatars or other images orinformation representing the contacts). For example, the strip can be asshown in FIG. 5 or 6. In another example, the strip can be vertical,diagonal, circular or any number of other shapes. In another example,the widget is merely an arrangement of one or more contacts, and neednot be formed into a contiguous strip of any shape. For example, thewidget could be displayed as a random arrangement of avatars on thewallpaper.

The widget can be displayed in a collapsed state in which social media(SM) information associated with a contact and/or text messagesassociated with a contact are not displayed. Rather, in this embodiment,the widget merely displays one or more contacts and indicia of a numberof messages or amount of social network activity associated with each ofthe one or more contacts. As shown in FIGS. 5 and 8A, the widget can bedisplayed as pictures of the one or more contacts and, as shown atcontact Allison, a number of messages received from or transmitted toAllison.

The widget can also be displayed in an expanded state displaying the oneor more contacts and one or more of the messages or SM informationassociated with the one or more contacts. This embodiment can be asshown in FIGS. 6, 8B and 8C.

FIG. 15 is another method of facilitating display and management ofinformation at a communication device in accordance with various aspectsand embodiments described herein. At 1502, method 1500 can includereceiving SM information associated with a selected contact. The SMinformation can be received at a communication device.

At 1504, method 1500 can include receiving or transmitting one or moretext messages from or to the selected contact. At 1506, method 1500 caninclude displaying the SM information and the one or more text messagesconcurrently. The concurrently displayed SM information and textmessages can be displayed on a single UI of the communication device.For example, the dynamically updatable wallpaper can be updated todisplay the SM information and the text messages associated with aparticular contact. In one embodiment, the SM information is displayedin a first portion of a UI and the one or more text messages aredisplayed in a second portion of the UI. In some embodiments, forexample, a portion of the wallpaper can be designated to be updated todisplay SM information and not text messages. By contrast, anotherportion of the wallpaper can be designated to display text messages andnot SM information. The embodiment can be as shown in FIGS. 9 and 10with the SM information in a middle portion of the wallpaper and thetext messages in a lower portion of the wallpaper and just above anavatar or picture associated with the contact. The text messages can bea history of the most recent text messages transmitted to and/orreceived from the contact to which the text messages are visuallyassociated. In some embodiments that display more than one contact onthe wallpaper, the contact for which SM information or text messages aredisplayed can be indicated by highlighting a portion of the contactavatar or picture, displaying a picture curl on the avatar or picture ofany other way of differentiating the contact from the other contactsdisplayed.

At 1508, method 1500 can include displaying contact information and oneor more static icons activatable to launch an application forcommunicating with the selected contact. The contact information and theone or more static icons activatable to launch the application can bedisplayed concurrently with the SM information and the one or more textmessages. For example, the contact information and one or more staticicons activatable to launch an application can be displayed at a topportion of the wallpaper as shown in FIGS. 9 and 10. The application canbe an application to launch a telephone call to the contact for which SMinformation and/or text messages are displayed, to initiate an email, toinitiate an SMS, MMS or other text message, to launch a contactsapplication displaying the contacts page for the contact, to launch aSNS or the like.

The embodiments described above are merely exemplary and the portions ofthe UI (or wallpaper) displaying the SM information, text messages, andcontact information and static icons activatable to launch anapplication can be in any non-overlapping portions of the UI, asdictated by the communication device designer and/or as configured bythe user of the communication device.

In various embodiments, the messages described herein can be TWITTER®,instant message, SMS or MMS messages or any number of other differenttypes of text messages.

In the embodiments described in methods 1200, 1300, 1400 and 1500, insome cases, the dynamically updatable wallpaper further comprises anicon activatable to display information on the dynamically updatablewallpaper. The information can be news, weather, time or otherinformation. In some embodiments, the information can be emailinformation and/or a text box or other mechanism for creating an email.

While the embodiments described herein are described with reference to acombination of two or more components, in various embodiments, one ormore of the functions or structure (or part thereof) associated with thetwo or more components of the communication devices 102, 202 can beperformed by a single component or more than two components. Further,steps associated with various methods described herein that aredescribed with reference to multiple components or applications can beperformed by a single component or application. Finally, multiple stepscan be combined and performed in a single step, single steps can beperformed as multiple steps, and steps described as being performed insequence or parallel can be performed partly or completely in parallelor sequence, respectively.

FIG. 16 illustrates an exemplary operating environment that facilitatesthe systems, apparatus, methods and computer-readable storage mediadescribed herein. In order to provide additional context for variousaspects of the embodiments described herein, FIG. 16 and the followingdiscussion are intended to provide a brief, general description of acomputing environment 1600 in which the various aspects described hereincan be implemented. While the description above is in the generalcontext of computer-executable instructions that can run on one or morecomputers, those skilled in the art will recognize that the claimedsubject matter also can be implemented in combination with other programmodules and/or as a combination of hardware and software.

Generally, program modules include routines, programs, components, datastructures, etc., that perform particular tasks or implement particularabstract data types. Moreover, those skilled in the art will appreciatethat the inventive methods can be practiced with other computer systemconfigurations, including single-processor or multiprocessor computersystems, minicomputers, mainframe computers, as well as personalcomputers, hand-held computing devices, microprocessor-based orprogrammable consumer electronics, and the like, each of which can beoperatively coupled to one or more associated devices.

The illustrated aspects of the disclosed subject matter can also bepracticed in distributed computing environments where certain tasks areperformed by remote processing devices that are linked through acommunications network. In a distributed computing environment, programmodules can be located in both local and remote memory storage devices.

A computer typically includes a variety of computer-readable media.Computer-readable media can be any suitable media that can be accessedby the computer and includes both volatile and non-volatile media,removable and non-removable media, and can be implemented in any methodor technology for storage of information such as computer-readableinstructions, data structures, program modules or other data. Computerstorage media includes, but is not limited to, read-only memory (ROM),random access memory (RAM), Electrically Erasable Programmable Read-OnlyMemory (EEPROM), flash memory or other memory technology, compact discread-only memory (CD-ROM), digital versatile disk (DVD) or other opticaldisk storage, magnetic cassettes, magnetic tape, magnetic disk storageor other magnetic storage devices, or other tangible and/ornon-transitory media which can be used to store desired information andwhich can be accessed by one or more computing devices, or other storagedevices. Combinations of any of the above are also included within thescope of computer-readable media.

In accordance with various aspects, the computing environment 1600 forimplementing various aspects includes a computer 1610, the computer 1610including a processing unit 1614, a system memory 1612 and a system bus1616. The system bus 1616 couples system components including, but notlimited to, the system memory 1612 to the processing unit 1614. Theprocessing unit 1614 can be any of various commercially availableprocessors, such a single core processor, a multi-core processor, or anyother suitable arrangement of processors. The system bus 1616 can be anyof several types of bus structure that can further interconnect to amemory bus (with or without a memory controller), a peripheral bus, anda local bus using any of a variety of commercially available busarchitectures. The system memory 1612 can include ROM, random accessmemory RAM, high-speed RAM (such as static RAM), erasable programmableread only memory (EPROM), EEPROM, flash memory, and/or the like.Additionally or alternatively, the computer 1602 can include a hard diskdrive, upon which program instructions, data, and the like can beretained. Moreover, removable data storage can be associated with thecomputer 1610. Hard disk drives, removable media, computer-readablestorage media, etc. can be communicatively coupled to the processingunit 1614 by way of the system bus 1616.

The system memory 1612 can retain a number of program modules, such asan operating system, one or more application programs, other programmodules, and program data. All or portions of an operating system,applications, modules, and/or data can be, for instance, cached in RAM,retained upon a hard disk drive, or any other suitable location. A usercan enter commands and information into the computer 1610 through one ormore wired/wireless input devices, such as a keyboard, pointing andclicking mechanism, pressure sensitive screen, microphone, joystick,stylus pen, etc. A monitor or other type of interface can also beconnected to the system bus 1616.

The computer 1610 can operate in a networked environment using logicalconnections via wired and/or wireless communications to one or moreremote computers, phones, or other computing devices, such asworkstations, server computers, routers, personal computers, portablecomputers, microprocessor-based entertainment appliances, peer devicesor other common network nodes, etc. The computer 1610 can connect toother devices/networks by way of antenna, port, network interfaceadaptor, wireless access point, modem, and/or the like.

The computer 1610 is operable to communicate with any wireless devicesor entities operatively disposed in wireless communication, e.g., aprinter, scanner, desktop and/or portable computer, portable dataassistant, communications satellite, any piece of equipment or locationassociated with a wirelessly detectable tag (e.g., a kiosk, news stand,restroom), and telephone. This includes at least WiFi and BLUETOOTH®wireless technologies. Thus, the communication can be a predefinedstructure as with a conventional network or simply an ad hoccommunication between at least two devices.

WiFi allows connection to the Internet from a desired location (e.g.,couch at home, a bed in a hotel room, or a conference room at work,etc.) without wires. WiFi is a wireless technology similar to that usedin a cell phone that enables such devices, e.g., mobile phones,computers, etc., to send and receive data indoors and out, anywherewithin the range of a base station. WiFi networks use radio technologiescalled IEEE 802.11(a, b, g, etc.) to provide secure, reliable, fastwireless connectivity. A WiFi network can be used to connectcommunication devices (e.g., mobile phones, computers, etc.) to eachother, to the Internet, and to wired networks (which use IEEE 802.3 orEthernet). WiFi networks operate in the unlicensed 2.4 and 5 GHz radiobands, at an 11 Mbps (802.11a) or 54 Mbps (802.11b) data rate, forexample, or with products that contain both bands (dual band), so thenetworks can provide real-world performance similar to the basic 10BaseTwired Ethernet networks used in many offices.

FIG. 17 illustrates an exemplary network environment that facilitatesthe systems, apparatus, methods and computer-readable storage mediadescribed herein. FIG. 17 depicts a GSM/General packet radio service(GPRS)/IP multimedia network architecture 1700 that includes a GSM corenetwork 1701, a GPRS network 1740 and an IP multimedia network 1738. TheGSM core network 1701 includes a Mobile Station (MS) 1714, at least oneBase Transceiver Station (BTS) 1704 and a Base Station Controller (BSC)1706. The MS 1714 is physical equipment or Mobile Equipment (ME), suchas a mobile phone or a laptop computer that is used by mobilesubscribers, with a Subscriber identity Module (SIM) 1714 c. The SIM1714 c includes an International Mobile Subscriber Identity (IMSI),which is a unique device identifier of a subscriber. The MS 1714includes an embedded client 1714 a that receives and processes messagesreceived by the MS 1714. The embedded client 1714 a can be implementedin JAVA and is discuss more fully below.

The embedded client 1714 a communicates with an application (APP) 1714 bthat provides services and/or information to an end user. One example ofthe application can be navigation software that provides near real-timetraffic information that is received via the embedded client 1714 a tothe end user. The navigation software can provide road conditions,suggest alternate routes, etc., based at least in part on the locationof the MS 1714. Those of ordinary skill in the art understand that thereare many different methods and systems of locating an MS 1714.

Alternatively, the MS 1714 and a device 1714 c can be enabled tocommunicate via a short-range wireless communication link, such asBLUETOOTH® technologies. For example, a BLUETOOTH® SIM Access Profilecan be provided in an automobile (e.g., device 1714 c) that communicateswith the SIM 1714 c in the MS 1714 to enable the automobile'scommunications system to pull information from the MS 1714. TheBLUETOOTH® communication system in the vehicle becomes an “embeddedphone” that employs an antenna associated with the automobile. Theresult is improved reception of calls made in the vehicle. As one ofordinary skill in the art would recognize, an automobile is one exampleof the device 1714 c. There can be an endless number of devices 1714 cthat use the SIM within the MS 1714 to provide services, information,data, audio, video, etc. to end users.

The BTS 1704 is physical equipment, such as a radio tower, that enablesa radio interface to communicate with the MS. Each BTS can serve morethan one MS. The BSC 1706 manages radio resources, including the BTS.The BSC can be connected to several BTSs. The BSC and BTS components, incombination, are generally referred to as a base station (BSS) or radioaccess network (RAN) 1703.

The GSM core network 1701 also includes a Mobile Switching Center (MSC)1708, a Gateway Mobile Switching Center (GMSC) 1710, a Home LocationRegister (HLR) 1712, Visitor Location Register (VLR) 1714, anAuthentication Center (AuC) 1718, and an Equipment Identity Register(EIR) 1716. The MSC 1708 performs a switching function for the network.The MSC also performs other functions, such as registration,authentication, location updating, handovers, and call routing. The GMSC1710 provides a gateway between the GSM network and other networks, suchas an Integrated Services Digital Network (ISDN) or Public SwitchedTelephone Networks (PSTNs) 1720. In other words, the GMSC 1710 providesinterworking functionality with external networks.

The HLR 1712 is a database or component(s) that comprises administrativeinformation regarding each subscriber registered in a corresponding GSMnetwork. The HLR 1712 also includes the current location of each MS. TheVLR 1714 is a database or component(s) that contains selectedadministrative information from the HLR 1712. The VLR containsinformation necessary for call control and provision of subscribedservices for each MS currently located in a geographical area controlledby the VLR. The HLR 1712 and the VLR 1714, together with the MSC 1708,provide the call routing and roaming capabilities of GSM. The AuC 1716provides the parameters needed for authentication and encryptionfunctions. Such parameters allow verification of a subscriber'sidentity. The EIR 1718 stores security-sensitive information about themobile equipment.

A Short Message Service Center (SMSC) 1709 allows one-to-one ShortMessage Service (SMS) messages to be sent to/from the MS 1714. A PushProxy Gateway (PPG) 1711 is used to “push” (e.g., send without asynchronous request) content to the MS 1714. The PPG 1714 acts as aproxy between wired and wireless networks to facilitate pushing of datato the MS 1714. A Short Message Peer to Peer (SMPP) protocol router 1713is provided to convert SMS-based SMPP messages to cell broadcastmessages. SMPP is a protocol for exchanging SMS messages between SMSpeer entities such as short message service centers. It is often used toallow third parties, e.g., content suppliers such as news organizations,to submit bulk messages.

To gain access to GSM services, such as speech, data, and short messageservice (SMS), the MS first registers with the network to indicate itscurrent location by performing a location update and IMSI attachprocedure. The MS 1714 sends a location update including its currentlocation information to the MSC/VLR, via the BTS 1704 and the BSC 1706.The location information is then sent to the MS's HLR. The HLR isupdated with the location information received from the MSC/VLR. Thelocation update also is performed when the MS moves to a new locationarea. Typically, the location update is periodically performed to updatethe database as location-updating events occur.

The GPRS network 1740 is logically implemented on the GSM core networkarchitecture by introducing two packet-switching network nodes, aserving GPRS support node (SGSN) 1732, a cell broadcast and a GatewayGPRS support node (GGSN) 1734. The SGSN 1732 is at the same hierarchicallevel as the MSC 1708 in the GSM network. The SGSN controls theconnection between the GPRS network and the MS 1714. The SGSN also keepstrack of individual MS's locations and security functions and accesscontrols.

A Cell Broadcast Center (CBC) 1733 communicates cell broadcast messagesthat are typically delivered to multiple users in a specified area. CellBroadcast is one-to-many geographically focused service. It enablesmessages to be communicated to multiple mobile phone customers who arelocated within a given part of its network coverage area at the time themessage is broadcast.

The GGSN 1734 provides a gateway between the GPRS network and a publicpacket network (PDN) or other IP networks 1736. In embodiments, the GGSNprovides interworking functionality with external networks, and sets upa logical link to the MS through the SGSN. When packet-switched dataleaves the GPRS network, it is transferred to an external TransmissionControl Protocol (TCP)-IP network 1736, such as an X.25 network or theInternet. In order to access GPRS services, the MS first attaches itselfto the GPRS network by performing an attach procedure. The MS thenactivates a packet data protocol (PDP) context, thus activating a packetcommunication session between the MS, the SGSN, and the GGSN.

In a GSM/GPRS network, GPRS services and GSM services can be used inparallel. The MS can operate in one three classes: class A, class B, andclass C. A class A MS can attach to the network for both GPRS servicesand GSM services simultaneously. A class A MS also supports simultaneousoperation of GPRS services and GSM services. For example, class Amobiles can receive GSM voice/data/SMS calls and GPRS data calls at thesame time. A class B MS can attach to the network for both GPRS servicesand GSM services simultaneously. However, a class B MS does not supportsimultaneous operation of the GPRS services and GSM services. That is, aclass B MS can only use one of the two services at a given time. A classC MS can attach for only one of the GPRS services and GSM services at atime. Simultaneous attachment and operation of GPRS services and GSMservices is not possible with a class C MS.

A GPRS network 1740 can be designed to operate in three networkoperation modes (NOM1, NOM2 and NOM3). A network operation mode of aGPRS network is indicated by a parameter in system information messagestransmitted within a cell. The system information messages dictates a MSwhere to listen for paging messages and how signal towards the network.The network operation mode represents the capabilities of the GPRSnetwork. In a NOM1 network, a MS can receive pages from a circuitswitched domain (e.g., voice call) when engaged in a data call. The MScan suspend the data call or take both simultaneously, depending on theability of the MS. In a NOM2 network, a MS cannot receive pages from acircuit switched domain when engaged in a data call, since the MS isreceiving data and is not listening to a paging channel. In a NOM3network, a MS can monitor pages for a circuit switched network whilereceived data and vice versa.

The IP multimedia network 1738 was introduced with 3GPP Release 5, andincludes an IP multimedia subsystem (IMS) 1750 to provide richmultimedia services to end users. A representative set of the networkentities within the IMS 1750 are a call/session control function (CSCF),a media gateway control function (MGCF) 1746, a media gateway (MGW)1748, and a master subscriber database, called a home subscriber server(HSS) 1750. The HSS 1750 can be common to the GSM network 1701, the GPRSnetwork 1740 as well as the IP multimedia network 1738.

The IP multimedia system 1750 is built around the call/session controlfunction (CSCF), of which there are three types: an interrogating CSCF(I-CSCF) 1743, a proxy CSCF (P-CSCF) 1742, and a serving CSCF (S-CSCF)1744. The P-CSCF 1742 is the MS's first point of contact with the IMS1750. The P-CSCF 1742 forwards session initiation protocol (SIP)messages received from the MS to an SIP server in a home network (andvice versa) of the MS. The P-CSCF 1742 can also modify an outgoingrequest according to a set of rules defined by the network operator(e.g., address analysis and potential modification).

The I-CSCF 1743 forms an entrance to a home network and hides the innertopology of the home network from other networks and providesflexibility for selecting an S-CSCF. The I-CSCF 1743 can contact asubscriber location function (SLF) 1745 to determine which HSS 1750 touse for the particular subscriber, if multiple HSS 1750 are present. TheS-CSCF 1744 performs the session control services for the MS 1714. Thisincludes routing originating sessions to external networks and routingterminating sessions to visited networks. The S-CSCF 1744 also decideswhether an application server (AS) 1752 is required to receiveinformation on an incoming SIP session request to ensure appropriateservice handling. This decision is based on information received fromthe HSS 1750 (or other sources, such as an application server 1752). TheAS 1752 also communicates to a location server 1756 (e.g., a GatewayMobile Location Center (GMLC)) that provides a position (e.g.,latitude/longitude coordinates) of the MS 1714.

The HSS 1750 contains a subscriber profile and keeps track of which corenetwork node is currently handling the subscriber. It also supportssubscriber authentication and authorization functions (AAA). In networkswith more than one HSS 1750, a subscriber location function providesinformation on the HSS 1750 that contains the profile of a givensubscriber.

The MGCF 1746 provides interworking functionality between SIP sessioncontrol signaling from the IMS 1750 and ISDN User Part (ISUP)/BearerIndependent Call Control (BICC) call control signaling from the externalGSTN networks (not shown). It also controls the media gateway (MGW) 1748that provides user-plane interworking functionality (e.g., convertingbetween Adaptive Multi-Rate (AMR)- and Pulse-code modulation (PCM)-codedvoice). The MGW 1748 also communicates with other IP multimedia networks1754.

In some embodiments, the IP networks 1736 described herein includenetworks communicatively coupled to social networking sites. As such,the networks disclosed herein can also include such IP networks 1736 andone or more social networking sites.

It is to be appreciated and understood that components (e.g., UE, AP,core network, security component, UI, overlay component, etc.), asdescribed with regard to a particular system or methodology, can includethe same or similar functionality as respective components (e.g.,respectively named components, similarly named components) as describedwith regard to other systems or methodologies disclosed herein.

As it employed in the subject specification, the term “processor” canrefer to substantially any computing processing unit or devicecomprising, but not limited to comprising, single-core processors;single-processors with software multithread execution capability;multi-core processors; multi-core processors with software multithreadexecution capability; multi-core processors with hardware multithreadtechnology; parallel platforms; and parallel platforms with distributedshared memory. Additionally, a processor can refer to an integratedcircuit, an application specific integrated circuit (ASIC), a digitalsignal processor (DSP), a field programmable gate array (FPGA), aprogrammable logic controller (PLC), a complex programmable logic device(CPLD), a discrete gate or transistor logic, discrete hardwarecomponents, or any combination thereof designed to perform the functionsdescribed herein. Processors can exploit nano-scale architectures suchas, but not limited to, molecular and quantum-dot based transistors,switches and gates, in order to optimize space usage or enhanceperformance of user equipment. A processor can also be implemented as acombination of computing processing units.

In the subject specification, terms such as “data store,” data storage,”“database,” “repository”, and substantially any other informationstorage component relevant to operation and functionality of acomponent, refer to “memory components,” or entities embodied in a“memory” or components comprising the memory. For example, informationrelevant to operation of various components described in the disclosedsubject matter, and that can be stored in a memory, can comprise, but isnot limited to comprising, subscriber information; cell configuration(e.g., devices served by an AP) or service policies and specifications;privacy policies; and so forth. It will be appreciated that the memorycomponents described herein can be either volatile memory or nonvolatilememory, or can include both volatile and nonvolatile memory. By way ofillustration, and not limitation, nonvolatile memory can include ROM,programmable ROM (PROM), EPROM, EEPROM, phase change memory (PCM), flashmemory, or nonvolatile RAM (e.g., ferroelectric RAM (FeRAM)). Volatilememory can include RAM, which acts as external cache memory. By way ofillustration and not limitation, RAM is available in many forms such assynchronous RAM (SRAM), dynamic RAM (DRAM), synchronous DRAM (SDRAM),double data rate SDRAM (DDR SDRAM), enhanced SDRAM (ESDRAM), SynchlinkDRAM (SLDRAM), and direct Rambus RAM (DRRAM). Additionally, thedisclosed memory components of systems or methods herein are intended tocomprise, without being limited to comprising, these and any othersuitable types of memory.

As used in this application, the terms “component,” “system,”“platform,” “interface,” “module,” and the like can refer to acomputer-related entity or an entity related to an operational machinewith one or more specific functionalities. The entities disclosed hereincan be either hardware, a combination of hardware and software,software, or software in execution. For example, a component can be, butis not limited to being, a process running on a processor, a processor,an object, an executable, a thread of execution, a program, and/or acomputer. By way of illustration, both an application running on aserver and the server can be a component. One or more components canreside within a process and/or thread of execution and a component canbe localized on one computer and/or distributed between two or morecomputers. As another example, an interface can include input/output(I/O) components as well as associated processor, application and/or APIcomponents, and can be as simple as a command line or as complex as anIntegrated Development Environment (IDE). Also, these components canexecute from various computer readable media having various datastructures stored thereon. The components can communicate via localand/or remote processes such as in accordance with a signal having oneor more data packets (e.g., data from one component interacting withanother component in a local system, distributed system, and/or across anetwork such as the Internet with other systems via the signal).

Furthermore, the embodiments can or can be implemented as a method,apparatus or article of manufacture using standard programming and/orengineering techniques to produce software, firmware, hardware, or anycombination thereof to control a computer, apparatus or article ofmanufacture to implement the functionality disclosed herein. The term“article of manufacture,” as used herein, is intended to encompass acomputer program, or computer program product, accessible from anycomputer-readable device, computer-readable carrier, computer-readablemedia or computer-readable storage media. Computer-readable storagemedia can include, but are not limited to, magnetic storage devices(e.g., hard disk, floppy disk, magnetic strip), optical disks (e.g.,compact disk (CD), DVD, Blu-ray disc (BD), . . . ), smart cards, and/orflash memory devices (e.g., card, stick, key drive). Additionally itshould be appreciated that a carrier wave can carry computer-readableelectronic data (e.g., the data transmitted and received via emailand/or to access the Internet or a network such as a LAN). As known tothose of ordinary skill in the art, modifications can be made to theabove embodiments without departing from the spirit of the disclosure.

Moreover, the word “exemplary” is used herein to mean an example,instance or illustration. Any aspect or design described herein as“exemplary” is not to be construed as preferred or advantageous overother aspects or designs. Rather, use of the word “exemplary” is merelyintended to present examples of embodiments. Further, as used herein,the term “or” is intended to mean an inclusive “or” rather than anexclusive “or”. That is, unless specified otherwise, or clear fromcontext, “X employs A or B” is intended to mean any of the inclusivepermutations (e.g., X employs A, X employs B, X employs A and B). Inaddition, the articles “a” and “an,” as used herein, should be construedto mean “one or more” unless, as specified otherwise, or clear fromcontext, the articles are directed to only a singular form.

As used herein, the terms “infer” or “inference” refer generally to theprocess of reasoning about or inferring states of the system, apparatus,method, environment, and/or user from a set of observations as capturedvia events and/or data. By way of examples, but not limitation,inference can be employed to identify a specific context or action, orcan generate a probability distribution over states. The inference canbe probabilistic (e.g., the computation of a probability distributionover states of interest based on a consideration of data and events).Inference can also refer to techniques employed for composinghigher-level events from a set of events and/or data. Such inference canresult in the construction of new events or actions from a set ofobserved events and/or stored event data, whether or not the events arecorrelated in close temporal proximity, and whether the events and datacome from one or several event and data sources.

What has been described above includes embodiments of claimed subjectmatter. It is, of course, not possible to describe every conceivablecombination of components or methodologies for purposes of describingthe claimed subject matter. However, one of ordinary skill in the artcan recognize that many further combinations and permutations of suchsubject matter are possible. Accordingly, the claimed subject matter isintended to embrace all such alterations, modifications and variationsthat fall within the spirit and scope of the appended claims.Furthermore, to the extent that the term “includes” is used in eitherthe detailed description or the claims, such term is intended to beinclusive in a manner similar to the term “comprising” as “comprising”is interpreted when employed as a transitional word in a claim.

1. A computer-implemented method, comprising: displaying, via a userinterface of a communication device, a dynamically updatable wallpapercomprising a personalized theme personalized to a user of thecommunication device; and updating the dynamically updatable wallpaperto display one or more animated icons, wherein the displaying the one ormore animated icons is based, at least, on detected activity of arespective one or more contacts associated with the one or more animatedicons.
 2. The computer-implemented method of claim 1, wherein thedetected activity is social network activity from the respective one ormore contacts.
 3. The computer-implemented method of claim 1, whereinthe detected activity is a receipt of a message from the respective oneor more contacts.
 4. The computer-implemented method of claim 1, furthercomprising updating the dynamically updatable wallpaper to displayactivity of the one or more animated icons, wherein the activity isbased on the type of the detected activity.
 5. The computer-implementedmethod of claim 1, wherein the personalized theme includes at least oneof fish jumping out of water, a bird flying with an envelope, ajellyfish swimming through an ocean with an envelope or a superheroflying over skyscrapers.
 6. The computer-implemented method of claim 1,wherein the dynamically updatable wallpaper further comprises an iconactivatable to display weather information on the dynamically updatablewallpaper.
 7. The computer-implemented method of claim 1, furthercomprising displaying a first widget on the dynamically updatablewallpaper, wherein the first widget is a display of one or more selectedcontacts.
 8. The computer-implemented method of claim 7, wherein thefirst widget is displayed in a first state and displaying the firstwidget in the first state comprises concurrently displaying the one ormore selected contacts and indicia of a number of messages associatedwith the one or more selected contacts.
 9. The computer-implementedmethod of claim 7, wherein the first widget is displayed in a secondstate and displaying the first widget in the second state comprisesconcurrently displaying the one or more selected contacts and one ormore of the messages associated with the one or more selected contacts.10. The computer-implemented method of claim 9, wherein the one or moreselected contacts are displayed as static representations of animatedicons respectively associated with the one or more selected contacts.11. The computer-implemented method of claim 10, wherein the animatedicons correspond to the personalized theme.
 12. An apparatus comprising:a processor; a user interface configured to display a plurality ofimages indicative of a plurality of contacts, wherein the plurality ofcontacts are predefined by a user of the apparatus; a messagingcomponent configured to: integrate different types of text messages fora one of the plurality of the contacts; and provide concurrent displayof the text messages and social media information for the one of theplurality of the contacts; and a computer-readable storage mediumstoring computer-executable instructions that, if executed, cause theapparatus to perform one or more functions of the user interface or themessaging component.
 13. The apparatus of claim 12, wherein displayingthe plurality of images comprises displaying the one of the plurality ofthe contacts with a picture curl based, at least, on the user interfacereceiving an input indicative of a selection of the one of the pluralityof the contacts.
 14. The apparatus of claim 12, wherein the userinterface is further configured to: receive an input indicative of aselection of the one of the plurality of the contacts; and display atext message and social media information associated with a selected oneof the plurality of the contacts, wherein displaying the text messageand the social media information is performed concurrently.
 15. Theapparatus of claim 14, wherein the displaying the text message and thesocial media information further comprises displaying the text messagein a first portion of a user interface and displaying the social mediainformation in a second portion of the user interface.
 16. The apparatusof claim 12, wherein the plurality of images are indicative of apersonalized theme personalized to a user of the communication device.17. The apparatus of claim 12, wherein concurrently displaying of thetext messages and social media information for the one of the pluralityof the contacts comprises displaying the social media information in afirst portion of the user interface and displaying the text messages ina second portion of the user interface.
 18. A computer-readable storagemedium having instructions stored thereon that, when executed by aprocessor, cause a method to be performed comprising: displaying, via auser interface of a communication device, a dynamically updatablewallpaper comprising a personalized theme personalized to a user of thecommunication device; and updating the dynamically updatable wallpaperto display one or more animated icons, wherein the displaying the one ormore animated icons is based, at least, on detected activity of arespective one or more contacts associated with the one or more animatedicons.
 19. The computer-readable storage medium of claim 18, wherein thedetected activity is social network activity from the respective one ormore contacts.
 20. The computer-implemented method of claim 18, whereinthe detected activity is social network activity from the respective oneor more contacts.